Photograph holder means



United States Patent Inventor Billy W. Halfen 719 Angers St., New Iberia, Louisiana 70560 Appl. No. 745,833

Filed July 18, 1968 Patented I 20, 1970 PHOTOGRAPH HOLDER MEANS 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. C1. 95/ 100,

. 15/268, 206/1 Int. Cl 603d 15/06 Field of Search 206/ 1 1A,

73, 62/.(Miscellaneous), 44.1 l/(Curs0ry); 220/4(E)(Cursory) f 202,993 4/1878 Closser References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair White 224/5.22UX Davis.... 211/41 X Reed.... 15/118 Hart 206/1 Trautinger 95/100 Wareham 95/100X Alden ct al.

220/4(E)UX Alvristant Exa minerLeonard Summer Attorney-Calvin .1. Laiche ABSTRACT: The present invention relates to a novel ph0t0 graph holder means' for use with cameras wherein theexposed print is developed within the camera, after which the print can be readily coated and stored in the present holder until its coating has dried.

Patented Oct. 20, 1970 3,534,675

INVENTOR:

BILLY W. HALFEN' ATTORNEY v PHOTOGRAPH HOLDER MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to receptacles for use with prints produced by cameras wherein the exposed print is developed immediately after its exposure within the camera and which thereafter requires the application of a protective coating.

There are print holders on the market today for holding and/or retaining a print to facilitate the application of a protective coating thereon. However, the present invention with its unique combination of features overcomes problems that are inherent in present day containers or holders. As is well known in the art of photography, a photograph made by way of the above type of cameras must be given a coating sometime after its development. This coating upon drying protects the picture from abuse by the elements and subsequent handling by people. Immediately after having coated such a photograph, it is quite troublesome to a photographer to hold the picture and coat it as well as place it in some suitable location where it can dry without hinderance. Care must be taken that the photograph is not allowed to come into contact with another object, especially other photographs, since the coating is adhesive in nature and thus will tend to stick to the object. By virtue of the present invention, these problems are simply and efficiently overcome in that novel container means are provided for facilitating the coating of prints and thereafter for inserting the prints in a fixed spaced apart relationship thereby preventing their contact. This and other advantages of the present invention will come to light as the discussion proceeds.

SUMMARY The present invention basically provides photograph holder means which comprises container means having at least one open end. The container means is further defined in that one pair of its opposite interior sides are provided with multiple slotted portions extending lengthwise of the interior side taken with respect to an open end of the container. The slotted portions in turn are adapted for receiving a photograph inserted therein. In such manner, the photographs are retained in a spaced apart relationship thereby preventing their contact subsequent to drying.

The container means is further defined as including certain cutout portions to facilitate the removal of photographs therefrom. Additionally, it includes means for suspending the container upon the person of the user and for holding a print in place so that it can be readily coated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 in the drawing shows a plan view of the present photograph holder means.

FIG. 2 depicts a view taken along the section line 8-8 of FIG. 1 showing a cross section of the present photograph holder means.

FIG. 3 represents a view taken along the section line A-A of FIG. 1 showing the internal slotted portions for retaining prints.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention basically comprises the container .means 10 as shown in plan view in FIG. 1. The container means 10 is provided with at least one open end as shown in cross section in FIG. 2 so as to allow photographs after coating to be inserted therein.

A pair of the opposite sides of the container 10, viz. the sides 11 and 12, are provided with the slotted portions 13 and 14 respectfully. The slotted portions, as shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, each comprise a multitude of the elongated slide members or guides 15 which run lengthwise along the interior of a given side. Each of the members 15 is provided with the rounded portion 16 at its end terminating at the open end of the container 10. The rounded portions 16 of the various members 15 provide for the rapid insertion of a picture within a respective groove as formed between adjacent members 15. The ends I7 of the end guards 18 are tapered only on one side as shown in FIG. 3. The individual guard members 15 are of a lateral width sufficient to support a picture along its edge or border without contacting the picture itself. This prevents any marring of the picture in the event that it was to drag along a given slide member 15.

The slotted sides of the member 10 are provided with the cutout portions 20 and 2] respectively. As can be appreciated from FIG. 1. the edges of a picture fully inserted within the container 10 will be exposed by virtue ofthe indented or cuto ut sectionsZQ and 2l. The purp ose of this isto allow the user to easily 55a rapidly retrieve a photograph from the holder 10. This is accomplished by placing, for example, the thumb and forefinger of the user on the edges of a picture contained in the member 10 whereby the picture can be slid outwards thereof. Of course, this feature also facilitates sliding a picture into the container 10. The indented portions 20 and 21 can also be positioned anywhere along the sides of the container 10. However, it is preferred to locate them rearwardly as shown in the drawing.

The container 10 is preferably provided with the clip 22 whereby prints undergoing development can be retained thus allowing the user to attend to other matters.

The container 10 is also provided with the slotted members 23 and 24 which are constructed to receive suspension means, e.g., a belt or a string, whereby the present holder can be suspended about the person of the user.

The ribbed orupraised portion 19 is provided for holding a print in place while it is being coated. That is, it prevents the print from sliding while the print coater is being passed back and forth over the print.

It can be appreciated that the present photograph holder can be fabricated of diverse materials of construction as well as being manufactured in innumerable ways. For example, the individual components can be fabricated separately and thereafter assemblied in some suitable fashion. However, it is preferred that the entire structure be molded in a single unified structure. Moreover, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that many incidental changes can be made in the specific design of the present photograph holder without departing from the true scope and spirit of the instant invention.

lclaim:

1. Photograph holder means comprising:

a. rectangular shaped container means having one end open; said container means being further defined in that one pair of its opposite sides are each provided with a cutout portion in the proximity of its c l o sed end whereby a vide an indentation wherein a photograph can be placed and thus prevent it from moving laterally while undergoing coating; guide means positioned lengthwise along the interior surfaces of said opposite sides of said container means (a) and provided with cutout portions congruent with the cutout portions in the sides, said guiderneans extendirgglon gitudinally from t he closed E53 6r said container means (a) to its open end and positioned in a fixed spaced apart relationship so as to define a multitude of slots having a width sufficienttoaccommodate photographic paper; said guide means being further defined in that its ends adjacent the open end of said container means (a) are rounded whereby a photograph can be readily inserted within a respective pair of opposite slots;

0. clip retaining means operably attached to one side of said container means (a) for retaining undeveloped photographs; and

d. slatted means attached to opposite sides of saidcontuiner 

